Sollenberger fired up about turning clay into career

Published: September 10, 2000 12:00 AM

David Sollenberger sits in front of the flat, spinning wheel and the shapeless lump of wet earth turning upon it.

His practiced fingers reach into the mass, probing and forming it. Within seconds a small bowl takes shape. It will soon be finished and another will take its place.

Sollenberger runs Cres Studio Pottery -- named after his wife Cresanne -- out of an airy, brightly lit studio at 8081 Wadsworth Road (state Route 57) north of Orrville in rural Marshallville. This is Sollenberger's first retail space, but he has been making and selling ceramics for most of his life.

Sollenberger, who graduated from Smithville High School in 1979, began studying pottery in seventh-grade under teacher Sam Sheller. He studied under Sheller all through high school and says, "Sam pushed us to show our work anywhere we could.

"He not only taught how to make pots but, perhaps more importantly, encouraged me in my work and in exhibiting my work. Without his encouragement I don't know for certain if I'd be doing this right now."

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After high school, Sollenberger studied ceramics at McPherson College in McPherson, Kan. and at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kan. It was in college that he had an important realization.

"I'm a potter's potter more than an art potter," Sollenberger said. "I was asked in college how I 'feel' about my pots.

"I felt like an alien in a foreign land because I wanted to make pots more than talk about them," he said. "It's what I wanted to do and all I wanted to do."

After college, however, Sollenberger ended up working in the restaurant business for many years. In 1992 he married Cresanne, of West Salem, whom he had met when he was 16.

"She encouraged me to pursue ceramics, to do what I always wanted to do, and, eventually, to start a studio. It's taken a while to work out, but we opened the 1,200-square-foot retail business on May 10, 2000."

In addition to the retail space where brightly colored wares are displayed on open shelves, Sollenberger has a wholesale business, selling to clients such as the Heinz Corp. and Gooseberry Patch.

"We produced upwards of 15,000 pots last year," Sollenberger said. "The retail and wholesale ends of the business really complement each other. Most of what I do is functional -- apple-bakers, candlesticks, bottles, incense burners, colanders, mugs, pitchers, casseroles, bowls -- and is all food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe.

"Most production items range from $8-$75, but I also do custom work," he said. "When people come in, I'm always glad to demonstrate at the wheel for them and people who want custom designs can sit and watch me work on them. We'll also be offering pottery classes in January."

Cres Studio Pottery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday and by appointment. The studio can be reached at (330) 855-7405 or 855-1448.